Traditions, Rivalries, Pageantry and Music . . .

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DL65

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set college football apart from other sporting venues, and they're what make fall Saturdays on college campuses unique and memorable. To be sure, longstanding NFL rivalries - Bears vs Packers, Giants vs Eagles, Redskins vs. Cowboys, etc. - may have some of the tradition component (small portion), however, the pro-game, imo, is truly lacking in the other areas listed. I must admit, though, they excel in the marketing of their product.

Music is a strength and feature that would be greatly missed and the college game's uniqueness would be diminished, if it were suddenly absent from a Saturday contest. The college songs and marches play an instrumental role (no pun intended) and make fall games on college campuses across this nation special.

Minnesota has several music pieces that are ear-catching. Which of the following is your favorite music selection?

Go Gopher Victory

Minnesota Fight

Our Minnesota

Minnesota Rouser

Minnesota March

Hail! Minnesota

I've always liked the Minnesota Rouser, ever since I was a small boy and I first started following the Gophers (nearly sixty years ago); however, the musical piece that I've come to enjoy more and more through the years and is my choice in this survey is the Minnesota March. It certainly didn't hurt to have an accomplished March specialist, John Phillip Sousa, compose the musical piece.

Go Gophers!!
 



I've always liked Minn March the best (probably obvious given my screen name), but I would say that 315 marching band people singing Hail! Minn in the antechamber of Northrop can't be beat.
 

As long as it isn't that piece of crap the band plays just before the dropping of the puck at the beginning of each period for the hockey games. Not only is it bad, but they repeat it right away so you are doubly nauseated!
 


I have to go with both the Mn March and the Rouser as my favorites. The March for the quality of the music, and the Rouser for its pure simplicity. If the Gophers had the same long term history as Michigan the Rouser would be just as famous as Hail to the Victors.
 

How many of you know the words?

It is part of what makes 'March' special to me. And it a football focused song like 'Our Minnesota' and 'Fight'

RAH! RAH! SKI-U-MAH! RAH! RAH! RAH! March on, march on to victory! Loyal sons of the varsity. Fight on, fight on for Minnesota For the glory of the old maroon and gold. March on, march on to win the game, DOWN THE FIELD, fighting every play. We're with you, team, fighting team, Hear our song, we cheer along To help you win a victory!
 

gophermartin said:
It is part of what makes 'March' special to me. And it a football focused song like 'Our Minnesota' and 'Fight'

RAH! RAH! SKI-U-MAH! RAH! RAH! RAH! March on, march on to victory! Loyal sons of the varsity. Fight on, fight on for Minnesota For the glory of the old maroon and gold. March on, march on to win the game, DOWN THE FIELD, fighting every play. We're with you, team, fighting team, Hear our song, we cheer along To help you win a victory!
Click to expand...

Agreed, I love the words too. Surprised how few fans seem to know them (especially alums).
 

gophermartin said:
It is part of what makes 'March' special to me. And it a football focused song like 'Our Minnesota' and 'Fight'

RAH! RAH! SKI-U-MAH! RAH! RAH! RAH! March on, march on to victory! Loyal sons of the varsity. Fight on, fight on for Minnesota For the glory of the old maroon and gold. March on, march on to win the game, DOWN THE FIELD, fighting every play. We're with you, team, fighting team, Hear our song, we cheer along To help you win a victory!
Click to expand...

OK, you have to admit these words are really lame when read without music. The lameness is not unique to Minnesota, however. Almost any team's "favorite song" is incredibly lame when read without the music and pageantry behind it. For example, "Varsity" the UW halftime song has been sung at almost every family wedding I have been at for the last 45 years, but the written word look really bad, even though the live version brings tears to the eyes of most attendees:

Varsity! Varsity!
U-rah-rah! Wisconsin,
Praise to thee we sing!
Praise to thee, our Alma Mater,
U-rah-rah! Wisconsin!

Yeah - that looks really lame. Hard to believe it brings tears to the eyes of people from the age of 16 to 96. THAT is what being a fan is about.
 




Since the Rouser is my ring tone I must vote for it.
 

My favorite both musically & lyrically is Our Minnesota

On you Gophers, you fighting Gophers
Break that line and win this game
Fight it through men
Win the Big Ten
Make them sorry that they came
For glory of Minnesota
For the honor that's her due
For Maroon & Gold be warriors bold
For dear old U

I really love that we have so many great school songs. Many schools don't even have one; we have SIX!
 

TAW said:
OK, you have to admit these words are really lame when read without music. The lameness is not unique to Minnesota, however. Almost any team's "favorite song" is incredibly lame when read without the music and pageantry behind it. For example, "Varsity" the UW halftime song has been sung at almost every family wedding I have been at for the last 45 years, but the written word look really bad, even though the live version brings tears to the eyes of most attendees:

Varsity! Varsity!
U-rah-rah! Wisconsin,
Praise to thee we sing!
Praise to thee, our Alma Mater,
U-rah-rah! Wisconsin!

Yeah - that looks really lame. Hard to believe it brings tears to the eyes of people from the age of 16 to 96. THAT is what being a fan is about.
Click to expand...

Varsity is actually Wisconsin's Alma Mater not just a half time song. I will admit that it is a pretty good tradition. Sadly though, I have no clue to the words to our Alma Mater.
 



I guess I'd have to go March, Rouser, then Hail. But that's a tough choice! When Jim Mitchell used to sing Hail Minnesota it sent chills down my spine and nearly brought tears to my eyes...

The lyrics to the first verse of Hail Minnesota are (I copied from Wikipedia due to laziness, but YES, I knew them):

Minnesota, Hail to Thee!
Hail to Thee, our College dear!
Thy light shall ever be
A beacon bright and clear.
Thy sons and daughters true
Will proclaim Thee near and far.
They will guard thy fame
and adore thy name;
Thou shalt be their Northern Star!

The second verse is on Wikipedia if you're interested, but I don't know that it's ever performed.
 

Hail Minnesota is severely underutilized and is a sweet song.
 

I love them all. I think our band is underrated. Win a couple Big Ten titles, and the band will get some more respect. I love the rotating M, and then marching it down the field. Our band has an excellent rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

I think the halftime music choices could be different.
 

I like them all.. but will have to say the Rouser and Hail, Minnesota are my favorites (and more popular to me than Hail to the Victors or whatever USC's band plays CONSTANTLY).
 

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